Although it’s well documented that other animals have specific calls for food, it hadn’t been proved for gorillas.

Until now.

Eva Luef, who studies primates at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, watched two groups of wild western lowland gorillas in the Republic of the Congo to see if they made any special sounds at mealtimes, New Scientist reported.

She noticed two specific sounds: a steady hum, kind of like a contented sigh, and another which was more of a hum and came out at different pitches.

Researchers think this could shed light on the way humans evolved language, as it appears to be a way for the animals to express contentment and call others to come and eat… like human parents shouting that dinner is ready.

Ali Vella-Irving, who works with gorillas at Toronto Zoo in Canada, told the magazine that visitors love to listen to the animals sing and hum there. ‘Each gorilla has its own voice: you can really tell who’s singing,’ she said.

‘And if it’s their favourite food, they sing louder.’

Mezzo-soprano (Picture: Getty)

Although at the zoo everyone joins in with mealtime choir practice, Eva Luef found that in the wild it was mainly the dominant silverback who led the chorus.

She theorised that could be because he has to keep control socially, and let everyone know when it’s time to tuck in as the group is more likely to move around to different areas.